SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Airmen, coworkers, family and friends of Chief Master Sgt. Gregory A. Nelson, 916th Air Refueling Wing command chief, gathered at his retirement ceremony held in the 916th Fuel Cell April 13, and paid tribute to his 30 years of service.
Former 916th ARW Commander Brig. Gen. Stephen J. Linsenmeyer, Jr., presided over the ceremony.
As the 916th ARW command chief, Chief Nelson served as the principal enlisted advisor to the wing's commander concerning mission readiness, utilization, morale, and quality of life of the wing's1,200 enlisted personnel.
Nelson grew up in Princeton, W.V., and entered the Air Force in August 1982. As a career logistician, he acquired a diverse range of logistics support and contingency experience in aircraft maintenance, quality assurance and logistics plans at base and major command levels. He supported numerous contingency operations including Desert Storm, Joint Forge, Northern and Southern Watch, and Enduring Freedom.
Throughout his career Chief Nelson served in a variety of management and leadership roles and in retrospect two topics surfaced that he felt were key to mission success: diversity and mentorship.
"As I look back on 30 years and coming through the Air Force, diversity of our Airmen is really and truly the force that drives the mission," he said. "Being able to look at things through different individual's eyes is truly what makes us the greatest Air Force in the world."
The chief also emphasized mentorship as an important facet supporting mission success. "I am a product of mentorship. You can get to anywhere you want to go by listening to mentors who see something in you that you don't see in yourself."
Chief Nelson was accompanied by his wife, children and parents.